Alexis Henderson has been on my TBR for a minute, but I decided to finally pull the trigger on this author and pick up An Academy for Liars. This is aAlexis Henderson has been on my TBR for a minute, but I decided to finally pull the trigger on this author and pick up An Academy for Liars. This is a story of epic proportions, and I was completely consumed by the world of Drayton College. Dark academia is one of my favorite genres, and Henderson took things to a whole new level with this gothic and magical version of one.
I would highly recommend going the audiobook route with this one as Tracie Frank brought every bit of both the characters and setting to life. Her narration was very passionate, and I felt like I was feeling everything our FMC Lennon was. This was occasionally a disturbing read, and things do get a tad grotesque at times, but it all felt true to the storyline and wasn’t overwhelming. Read this if you enjoy dark academia blended with gothic and southern elements, horror, and the paranormal!
I received an advance listening copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
I have no idea why it took me so long to read Don't Look for Me by Wendy Walker, and I can see why this is one of her top-rated novels! I already loveI have no idea why it took me so long to read Don't Look for Me by Wendy Walker, and I can see why this is one of her top-rated novels! I already love how pacy and bingeable her books are, but this was also off the charts suspenseful, and I especially loved the dual viewpoints between Molly and her daughter Nicole. The twists left me reeling and I ended up with my jaw on the floor because I did NOT see the climax coming. Not even a little bit.
I listened to the audiobook which is narrated by Thérèse Plummer and as usual she was a joy to listen to. It would have been nice to have a viewpoint for both the mom and daughter, but I loved Plummer's narration all the same and thought she was the perfect choice to voice the audio. Don't Look for Me is very mysterious, and the tension builds all the way until that earth shaking ending. This is now my favorite book by Walker!
Thank you to the publishers for my advanced listening and reader copies of this book. All opinions and thoughts are my own....more
When I was on my most recent road trip, I was looking for something quick to finish up with and I decided to make that All the Other Mothers Hate Me bWhen I was on my most recent road trip, I was looking for something quick to finish up with and I decided to make that All the Other Mothers Hate Me by Sarah Harman. I'm glad I did because this was a fast-paced, short, and very engrossing read that I read almost in its entirety before we got home. I will say it, I did not like a single character and sometimes I almost downright hated Florence. She is incredibly selfish, has an addiction problem, and sleeps with random men, some of whom are married. But her love and devotion to her son never wavered even in the face of something potentially terrible, so I guess she wasn’t all bad.
Florence might be one of the worst amateur sleuths I have ever seen, but she was also very determined no matter what was thrown at her, and I loved that she managed to make a true friend along the way. There were a lot of moments that made me cringe and laugh in equal measure and man does Harman know how write an entertaining storyline! The climax almost completely surprised me and though I did see one part coming, I didn’t have it completely figured out. This is Harman’s debut novel, and I wouldn’t hesitate to read more from her!
I received a complimentary copy of this book via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
Funnily enough, my dentist actually recommended Pen Pal by J.T. Geissinger to me, and I honestly don’t think I ever would have picked it up if not forFunnily enough, my dentist actually recommended Pen Pal by J.T. Geissinger to me, and I honestly don’t think I ever would have picked it up if not for her. Thank goodness she did though, because this book left my heart in my throat and my jaw on the floor. It was a fabulous mix of the supernatural and fiery romance with characters I loved and a twist I didn’t see coming despite the breadcrumbs that are left for the reader.
The audiobook is one of the best I have ever listened to, and Tara Langella & Troy Duran were both incredible narrators. I loved that their voices mingle throughout so it’s like watching something on TV or hearing a conversation as opposed to one sided narration. This is also probably the steamiest book I have ever read, and I would be lying if I said none of it made me blush. Almost all of the steamy scenes did, so prepare yourself for dirty! If you have an open mind when it comes to what you read and you enjoy dark romance, pick this up ASAP!
I'm torn between a 4 or 5 ⭐ for Heads Will Roll byJosh Winning but one thing I do know is that I loved it! I expected this to be more of a blood bath I'm torn between a 4 or 5 ⭐ for Heads Will Roll byJosh Winning but one thing I do know is that I loved it! I expected this to be more of a blood bath right away but instead the author sets the scene and the characters first and it is off to a bit of a slow start in that aspect. As we get closer to the end that definitely changes though and then heads are indeed rolling and there is gore and violence aplenty. My favorite character of them all is definitely Willow's favorite actress (Juniper?), and she was a badass until the very end.
I would thoroughly recommend the audiobook, and I loved the narrator, EJ Lavery. I loved listening to her, and I thought she had the perfect amount of emotion all the way to the end as well bringing the fear, terror, and confusion of the characters to life. I was shocked by a couple of the revelations, and the truth to many facets of the storyline was actually pretty sad. As being more of a horror newbie, I think that is who I would recommend this to over the seasoned horror reader who is looking for something darker/more slasher. Heads Will Roll was perfect for me and now I need to actually get to Winning's backlist!...more
Welcome to another edition of Bookstagram Made Me Do It, this time featuring Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend by M.J. Wassmer. I cannot believe this is a Welcome to another edition of Bookstagram Made Me Do It, this time featuring Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend by M.J. Wassmer. I cannot believe this is a debut novel, and it is one of the most unique books I have read in quite some time. It is both satire and speculative fiction, two genres that I am not usually a fan of under normal circumstances, but here they were perfection. And let’s not forget dystopian since the sun explodes and it is the end of the world as Dan knows it. Filled with quirky characters, action, and humor, this was a fun ride that would make a great beach read if you can get over the fact it’s about the end of the world happening on an island.
The audiobook is the way to go for Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend, and I thought Stephen R. Thorne was the perfect fit for Dan. He brought the storyline and characters to life in the best possible way, and I could feel every single emotion through his lively narration. The audio is clear and crisp as well, and delivery was on point! I loved the journey Dan goes on personally as well throughout the story and the way his underachieving turns into something different. His relationship with Mara is on center stage and I enjoyed watching them navigate the ups and downs of their circumstances with humor and determination. There is also a big twist that in hindsight I probably should have seen coming, but I didn’t, and I loved it. Read this if you want something different and funny while still having serious moments and an air of mystery....more
The Stranger at the Wedding is A.E. Gauntlett's debut novel and DANG! It had a couple of twists that made my mouth drop open, as well as being a book I could not put down. I saw readers saying there was nothing groundbreaking here, and while I agree to some extent, it still threw me for a loop, and I loved the deviousness of one of these characters. I don't think I actually liked a single person in the story, but that was fine by me and definitely kept things interesting.
I loved the audiobook and thought Sophie Rundle did a fantastic job. There are a few different viewpoints with quite a few characters, and I will admit it was sometimes hard for me to keep track of them all while I was listening. However, once we were introduced to each of them I found it a bit easier though it may be helpful to keep a list if you go the audiobook route. Overall, I was incredibly satisfied with this domestic suspense (I wouldn't call it a thriller) novel, and I will be looking forward to seeing what else Gauntlett writes!
I received an advanced listening copy of this book via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
I was a huge fan of The Last Story of Mina Lee, so I was excited to see what Nancy Jooyoun Kim's sophomore novel What We Kept to Ourselves would bringI was a huge fan of The Last Story of Mina Lee, so I was excited to see what Nancy Jooyoun Kim's sophomore novel What We Kept to Ourselves would bring. This was a slow-burn character-driven work of literary fiction with a mystery element, and while I loved the end and the twists, I don't think it needed to be almost 400 pages. It also moved too slowly for my liking and felt repetitive, but only as far as the same topics being brought up repeatedly. I did appreciate the subject of Agent Orange, and knowing someone who was in the Vietnam War and hearing stories about it previously, made that part really stand out for me even though that piece was relatively small.
I listened to the audiobook and really enjoyed Jennifer Kim as the narrator, but I would have appreciated a full cast for the various viewpoints. That wasn't a huge deal for me, but something I want to point out all the same. Honestly, I was close to a DNF multiple times, but the audiobook kept me going and I HAD to find out what happened with Sunny. I will admit that my attention wandered quite a bit almost the entire time I was listening to What We Kept to Ourselves, but in no way should this stop you from reading. I am definitely in the minority here and did enjoy multiple things including the exploration of secrets. If you enjoy slow burns and character studies with a focus on other cultures, I would still recommend giving this a go.
Thank you to the publishers and Libro.fm for my complimentary listening and reader copies of this book. All opinions and thoughts are my own....more
For some reason, I was under the impression that Trouble in Queenstown was Delia Pitts' debut, but it is not! I thought she didAudiobook Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
For some reason, I was under the impression that Trouble in Queenstown was Delia Pitts' debut, but it is not! I thought she did a wonderful job of using the showing not telling method, almost to the point where sometimes I wasn't quite sure what she was getting at, but it felt electric all the same. I loved our FMC Evander “Vandy” Myrick, and she was a very relatable character between her quest for justice and the way her dad was the center of her world. Loss of a child is discussed among other things, so I would make sure to check your triggers as this book does get a little dark.
I loved Bahni Turpin as the narrator for the audiobook, and thought she made the entire storyline along with its characters come alive in an exciting way. She was on it during the action scenes as well, and I was impressed with the way she made Vandy shine. I loved how the book was broken down into Vandy's different cases though it also came along with the progression of the plot itself. I love a gritty PI novel, but I also felt like something was missing from this one to keep me from connecting with it fully. ...more
From what I can tell, Ladykiller is Katherine Wood's debut, and it is just the kind of salacious and drama-filled book I love to read. The viewpo4.5/5
From what I can tell, Ladykiller is Katherine Wood's debut, and it is just the kind of salacious and drama-filled book I love to read. The viewpoints rotate between Abby and Gia’s manuscript, and if you don’t like the unreliable narrator trope this will not be for you. I loved the way the manuscript and Abby’s viewpoint ended up tying together, and I definitely spent the entire book wondering how true Gia’s story was. The pacing is on the slower side but still steady, and I just completely fell into this world of sex, money, and bad behavior with a dash of mystery.
I listened to the audiobook which is narrated by Marcella Black & Hallie Ricardo and thought they both did a bang-up job. I did like whoever narrated Gia’s manuscript slightly better, but honestly, they were both rockstars and I LOVED the audio even on a (slow for me) 2x speed. Ladykiller was super close to being a 5-star ⭐ read for me had it not been for the rather ambiguous ending. I typically prefer more closure than what I got here, and I literally shook my fist at the end. ...more
I don't know why it took me so long to pick up a book by Shanora Williams, but now I want to read all of her other thrillers. The Bitter Truth is fastI don't know why it took me so long to pick up a book by Shanora Williams, but now I want to read all of her other thrillers. The Bitter Truth is fast-paced, super bingeable, and filled with jaw-dropping twists that I never saw coming. Some parts were tough to read, and I appreciated Williams including triggers at the beginning of the book in a dear reader section. If you have triggers, I would be sure to read it as there are definitely a few in here. The two main viewpoints in the beginning are Jolene (Jo) and her husband Dominic, but then it flips around midway, and we have more female POVs. I loved the way that and some focus on the past made the story flow and it certainly kept me on my toes.
The entire audiobook is narrated by Sable Lyn & Roderick Ross with Ross narrating Dominic and Lyn narrating all the female viewpoints. Thankfully, Williams labeled each chapter, so I didn’t have any confusion over whose POV I was in. I loved Ross’ narration and I just love his voice in general. Lyn was a bit of a mixed bag for me, and while I liked her narration, I didn’t love it. She had pauses in odd spots throughout, and it just felt pretty unnatural overall instead of flowing. I don’t want to say too much about the actual storyline, and I think besides knowing triggers, The Bitter Truth is best to go into as blind as possible. I loved the strong friendship that was in the book as well and that bond is something I don’t get to see too often in thrillers, so I was happy. If you are in the mood for something that is dark, twisty, and packs a punch this is it! ...more
I didn't have Karen E. Olson on my radar until I started seeing An Inconvenient Wife everywhere, but if she writes more books like this I am in!4.25/5
I didn't have Karen E. Olson on my radar until I started seeing An Inconvenient Wife everywhere, but if she writes more books like this I am in! It was a 1-day read for me and once I started, I just couldn't put it down. Through various viewpoints, we get lots of twists and turns as well as some fantastic suspense. I had no idea until after I was done that this is a retelling of Henry VIII and his many wives set in the present-day as a rich businessman instead of royalty. After reading about him further I could see so many similarities, and I loved how Olson brought him and all that craziness into life in a crime novel.
One of the ways I was able to turn An Inconvenient Wife into a one-sitting read was thanks to the audiobook, and while a full cast would have been helpful for all of the different POVs, Nikki Thomas still knocked it out of the park. I thought she did a great job changing her voice up for the various characters and she was a delight to listen to. While the reader finds out rather early on part of what is going on, there is still much to discover and lies to unravel. The ending gave me actual chills, and I sure love it when an author can do that....more
The Drowning House was a weird one for me, which was especially sad because I LOVE Cherie Priest's series The Booking Agents. This was definitely a veThe Drowning House was a weird one for me, which was especially sad because I LOVE Cherie Priest's series The Booking Agents. This was definitely a very far departure from that kind of cozy crime mystery, and it had all the witchy, eerie, and gothic vibes that make for a perfect fall read. However, I thought the pacing got bogged down by the inclusion of the 1985 timeline as well as the other viewpoints minus one at the very end. I would have been perfectly fine staying in the present time exclusively from Melissa's viewpoint.
The audiobook is narrated by Mara Wilson, and I thought she did an excellent job of heightening the seclusion and creepiness of the storyline. I love an isolated location and the setting at an exceptionally spooky house on a rural beach was perfection. Wilson is probably what kept this from being a DNF for me and in between the disjointedness I felt and some aspects that were just plain bizarre (I kept thinking wth as I was listening), it was mostly a miss for me. That being said I know some readers will truly love it, so I wouldn't let my review stop you and there were many elements I did love.
I received a complimentary copy of this book via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
Death at Morning House by Maureen Johnson was such a fun read and proved to me that I need to stop putting off this author's otheAudiobook Rating: 5/5
Death at Morning House by Maureen Johnson was such a fun read and proved to me that I need to stop putting off this author's other books. I loved the dual timelines between Marlowe and the Ralston family in 1932 which eventually come together so the reader knows exactly what happened at Morning House. There was so much to uncover, and I loved all of the little clues and twists along the way. Marlowe made me LOL quite a bit, while the Ralston POV was more serious and ominous. Who knew candles could be so dangerous?!
I listened to and loved the audiobook and thought Katherine Littrell did a wonderful job as the narrator. I am a pretty large fan of hers in general, and she did an excellent job with every aspect of her narration here. Death at Morning House is a queer romance and murder mystery all wrapped up in one fast-paced story and thriller readers who love YA are sure to enjoy it. I especially enjoyed the end and the introduction with the articles! Plus, Marlowe's POV gives new meaning to the phrase if you can't be good, be careful. ...more
Things Don't Break on Their Own by Sarah Easter Collins felt very literary mystery to me, and though it is very character-driven I loved it to the maxThings Don't Break on Their Own by Sarah Easter Collins felt very literary mystery to me, and though it is very character-driven I loved it to the max! The bonds of family run deep in this one, and the blend of Willa's quest to find her missing sister plus the alternating viewpoints and general heartbreak and drama created the perfect storm of readability. I listened to this in basically one sitting, and it grabbed me from the first page. I got lost in Collins' writing and I still can't believe this is a debut.
I listened to the audiobook which is narrated by Christina Cole, Emily Lucienne & Nathalie Buscombe, and damn was it good! Each of these narrators did an excellent job with their characters and helped to completely envelop me in the story. I feel like I'm being really vague, but the synopsis is also pretty vague, and I don't want to give anything away. Things Don't Break on Their Own is an onion with many layers and excellent characterization, and I teared up and got chills at the same time. Just outstanding, and I can't wait for the author's next book.
Thank you to the publishers for my advanced listening and reader copies of this book. All opinions and thoughts are my own....more
I have only just started dipping my toes into romantasy and smuttier books, and I LOVED Filthy Rich Fae by Geneva Lee! It took until about the 70% marI have only just started dipping my toes into romantasy and smuttier books, and I LOVED Filthy Rich Fae by Geneva Lee! It took until about the 70% mark for the spiciness to really even come into play, and by that time Cate and Lachlan had quite the rapport going. I loved both characters but especially our fierce FMC Cate. She is just the type of woman you want as the star of the show, and she wasn’t a weak character in any aspect. The majority of the story is told from her perspective with Lach coming in near the end. Even though his POV is minimal it gave me chills and it was a smart move on Lee’s part.
The audiobook is freaking fantastic with Raquel Beattie as the narrator for Cate and Aiden Snow narrating Lach. Even though it is a little lengthy at 14 hours and 27 minutes, I was so caught up in the story that it didn’t feel like it. And THAT CLIFFHANGER! I knew it was coming even though I still held out hope there would be some sort of closure, but nope, and now I’m dead. I hope we don’t have to wait long for book 2 of this series or I might lose my mind with the not knowing. Lee’s writing sucked me in from the first SENTENCE and it is very fluent, concise, and expressive which is everything I needed for Filthy Rich Fae. I will definitely need to read more from this author, and if you enjoy romatasy with an air of mystery I highly recommend this deliciously dark book! ...more
Finally, my first Catherine Cowles book, and boy was it a doozy! Fragile Sanctuary is this wonderfully crazy mix of steamy romance, serial killers, anFinally, my first Catherine Cowles book, and boy was it a doozy! Fragile Sanctuary is this wonderfully crazy mix of steamy romance, serial killers, and suspense that I could not put down. Told from the viewpoints of (view spoiler)[ex-FBI profiler (hide spoiler)] Anson and Rhodes who has to confront her past through renovation of her family home, this duo had lots of tension right from the beginning and I couldn't get enough of either of them.
I did find the audiobook to be a bit disappointing, and I thought Zachary Webber’s performance was very lacking. Andi Arndt is the narrator who stole the show here and I loved her for the voice of Rhodes. I don’t think I can say too much about Fragile Sanctuary without giving anything away, so I will end by saying that if you love suspenseful spicy romance with mystery elements and plenty of lovable characters, this is the book for you. I can’t wait to read more of this series and I’m so glad it’s book one!
I've probably said it before but I will say it again: I have not met a Robyn Harding book I haven't liked, and I was dying to read The Haters. This liI've probably said it before but I will say it again: I have not met a Robyn Harding book I haven't liked, and I was dying to read The Haters. This lived up to every expectation I could have had for it, and it completely blew my mind! ...more
I hadn't read Yasmin Angoe until I read Not What She Seems, and I definitely think I need to change that! This book was super wild at the end and whilI hadn't read Yasmin Angoe until I read Not What She Seems, and I definitely think I need to change that! This book was super wild at the end and while it was a slower burn to start, I was completely invested and couldn't wait to see what would happen. Jac is the main viewpoint in the story, and while I didn't always understand or agree with her choices, she was a multifaceted character who was both relatable and frustrating at the same time. She made for an entertaining and interesting FMC and the drama was top-notch.
Jordan Cobb narrates the audiobook, and I would recommend it to all the audio fans out there. I thought Cobb was an excellent narrator, especially for Jac, and she helped keep me on the edge of my seat. The conclusion of Not What She Seems blew my mind a little bit and was completely unexpected. Including Faye’s viewpoint later in the book was a brilliant idea and helped me get a better idea of her character and what was driving her throughout the story since we don't have her viewpoint elsewhere. There were a lot of what I would call stupid decisions being made when I neared the end, but it added lots of suspense, and I couldn't look away.
Thank you to the publishers, author, and Over the River Public Relations for my complimentary listening and reader copies of this book. All opinions and thoughts are my own....more
Loading...
